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Guest Post by: Amy Collett
Backyard Makeover Ideas That Are Every Family’s Wildest Dream
If your backyard doesn’t enhance your life, then you may as well live in an apartment. There’s no reason (barring an HOA or codes violation) that you should not have everything you’ve ever dreamed of on the property you’ve worked so hard to afford. From the interesting to the extreme, the following ideas can help you turn your backyard from plain to untamed.
Meghan Carroll offers today’s tips as just one of many valuable resources for homebuyers throughout the Jersey shore area.
Safety: Lighting and Fencing
Safety is paramount to any backyard project, no matter how big or small. But, if you’re planning to go big, you’ll want to research the different types of lighting that will help you both stay safe and enjoy your space for as long as possible. Take a look at stadium lighting options. If you can get a grasp on the equipment, technology, and logistics of lighting a large complex, such as a professional football field or indoor college basketball arena, this will make it much easier to illuminate a smaller space.
Before You Begin
Before you get started with any type of extreme home makeover, particularly in the outdoors, check each neighborhood to confirm that codes and/or your HOA allow your desired upgrades and updates. You’ll also want to pay close attention to your budget. While we all have big dreams, these types of projects also come with a big price tag.
Over-the-Top Ideas
It’s time to let your imagination run wild. A few of the best extreme backyard additions include:
- Gun range. If you have plenty of land and enjoy shooting, building a home shooting range is not particularly difficult. It takes in-depth planning, and you’ll have to ensure that it is laid out for safety.
- Tube slide on the deck. There are a few great reasons to install a tube slide on the deck. If you have a small space, this may be enough entertainment that the kids will quit asking for a swing set. A tube slide can also be installed from an upper deck to a lower deck to serve as a pool slide. Charleston Crafted’s DIY video is a great tutorial.
- Backyard ice-skating. Winter is coming, and that means you can have your own backyard ice-skating rink that you can use for figure skating or ice hockey. This is a great option for winter exercise if you live in a cooler climate where you will consistently have temperatures of 23° or lower.
- For young adventure seekers, few things are more adrenaline-pumping than a zipline. A quick search on Amazon will reveal a host of DIY zip line options for kids and adults of all ages. Make sure that everyone wears proper safety gear and that your equipment can handle your largest potential rider.
- Outdoor kitchen. An outdoor kitchen might not pump adrenaline through your veins, but this can be an amazing addition to your outdoor space. The Houzz blog showcases dozens of outdoor kitchen ideas that include features that range from fountains to gourmet-covered cooking surfaces and fire pits. Your outdoor kitchen can easily be an extension of your indoor areas. Set up well, and you may never have to clean your actual kitchen again.
Your outdoor space is just that: yours. Personalize it so that your family will get the most enjoyment out of the place that you call home. It takes work, planning, and a focus on safety, particularly lighting, but the backyard of your dreams is waiting in your imagination. All you have to do is put it into action and get ready for your family to enjoy your amazing new space.
